Same Sex Couple Uses Skype to Legally Marry in Texas

A same-sex couple in Texas has used Skype to legally marry, circumventing state law that doesn't recognize the practice.

0shares

A same-sex couple in Texas has used Skype to legally marry, circumventing state law that doesn't recognize the practice.

Mark Reed, a board member for national LGBT group GetEqual married Dante Walkup, his partner of 10 years, without even leaving their home city of Dallas, a Time article has said. The wedding was officiated via Skype by a person in Washington D.C., where same-sex marriage is recognized, in what is called an "e-marriage." It's similar to the type of proxy ceremony that would take place if one spouse cannot be present, if they are for example, deployed with the military.

Although the actual wedding took place in their home city, the couple did have to travel to D.C. before the ceremony in order to obtain a marriage license.

//Related Articles

"The reason we wanted to do it this way is because we wanted to have a wedding here in Dallas with our family and friends," Reed said. "It was very important that all of our family came. It was the first time they actually met, even though we've been together for 10 years. If we had to go to D.C., there's no way we could have had the people there who we wanted to be there."

The ceremony took place at the W Hotel in Dallas. Marriage equality activist Shella Alexander-Reid officiated from a similar room at the W in Washington.

The couple won't use their marriage to counter Texas' ban on same-sex marriage, and there are no existing laws against "e-marriages." Along with legislators in states that recognize same sex relationship, Reed is working to have the statutes passed that recognize the practice.

Leslie Horn joined the PCMag team as a news reporter in the fall of 2010. She covers a wide range of topics from digital media to the latest Apple rumor. After graduating with a degree in Magazine Journalism from the University of Missouri, she wrote for Out & About, a travel guide in coastal Maine. One of her favorite reporting experiences was covering the 2008 Olympics from Beijing. She travels every chance she gets, and recently spent time backpacking along the coast of Brazil. Though she...
More »

Automatic Renewal Program: Your subscription will continue without interruption for as long as you wish, unless
you instruct us otherwise. Your subscription will automatically renew at the end of the term unless you authorize
cancellation. Each year, you'll receive a notice and you authorize that your credit/debit card will be charged the
annual subscription rate(s). You may cancel at any time during your subscription and receive a full refund on all
unsent issues. If your credit/debit card or other billing method can not be charged, we will bill you directly instead. Contact Customer Service